Pikachu and pals make a compelling reason to skip the bullet train while traveling in Japan over the next few months.
Casey Baseel
Born and raised in Los Angeles, Casey Baseel spent his formative years staring in frustration at un-subtitled Japanese TV programming shown on Southern California’s international channel. Taking matters into his own hands, he moved to Tokyo to study the language, then found work in Yokohama a decade ago teaching, translating, and marketing hotels he can’t afford to stay in. When not participating in the eternal cycle of exercising to burn the calories form his love of Japanese food, Casey scours used comic and game shops for forgotten classics, drags his wife around the country in a quest to visit all its castles, sings karaoke not nearly as well as he thinks he does, and counts the days until the summertime bars open on Enoshima Beach.
Posted by Casey Baseel (Page 17)
Anime/manga-themed café’s baked goods run the range from cute to crazy, just like Chiikawa itself.
Six of Japan’s biggest ice cream makers face accusations of collaborating to keep fairly priced ice cream out of consumers’ hands/stomachs.
Kiki’s next adaptation will draw from her original, pre-anime roots, but will audiences give it a chance?
![Japanese soccer fans show excellent manners as World Cup opens[Pics, video]](https://soranews24.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2026/06/wc-1.jpg?w=640 "Japanese soccer fans show excellent manners as World Cup opens[Pics, video]")
Chants and headbands aren’t the only tradition supporters of Japan’s sports teams bring with them when attending events overseas.
With the full-scale train needing to take a break, toymaker Takara Tomy is here to pick up the Slowpoke slack.
![Japanese university welcomes birth of baby deer on campus, president waives entrance exam[Videos]](https://soranews24.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2026/06/nd-1.jpg?w=640 "Japanese university welcomes birth of baby deer on campus, president waives entrance exam[Videos]")
Educator in Nara’s most famous deer town fast tracks admission to institute of higher learning.
Farewell celebration includes giveaways to help fans look a little more like Gundam themselves.
Hello Kitty and friends imagined what their perfect hotel would be like, and they’re inviting you in.
![Bears appear at one of Kyoto Prefecture’s most popular tourist spots[Video]](https://soranews24.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2026/06/1_1aa61d.jpg?w=640 "Bears appear at one of Kyoto Prefecture’s most popular tourist spots[Video]")
People have been traveling to Amanohashidate for centuries, and this week apparently bears are too.
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Today
Foreign travelers sitting on sidewalks of Tokyo’s Ginza are Japan’s latest tourism culture clash
Tokyo Monorail, other east Japan rail networks announce discontinuation of magnetic paper tickets
We waited three hours to get into the new carb heaven all-you-can-eat bread restaurant in Osaka
American man runs out of money in Japan, gets arrested for overstaying tourist visa
Studio Ghibli adds Totoro family goods to its anime merchandise store in Japan
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Weekly
What’s it like to stay in a Japanese container hotel?- Family Mart releases 47 convenience store socks and stickers, one for every prefecture in Japan
- American man runs out of money in Japan, gets arrested for overstaying tourist visa
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Tokyo train station will play Godzilla theme song as new departure melody- Studio Ghibli adds Totoro family goods to its anime merchandise store in Japan
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Giant wagashi cushions will turn your home sweet home into home sweet Japanese sweets home
Monthly
Japan announces new permanent residency guidelines, foreigners must earn more than average Japanese person
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Lady Gaga and Family Mart team up for a Japanese convenience store work video [Video]- What’s it like to stay in a Japanese container hotel?
New Gundam Base superstores coming soon in the U.S., with one opening this month
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Do Japan’s new single-minded convenience store bento show depressing poverty or satisfying focus?
Yearly
Japan announces sudden 400-percent increase in visa fees for foreigners entering the country
Japan’s human washing machines will go on sale to general public, demos to be held in Tokyo
Studio Ghibli has a new anime out, and there’s only one place in the world where you can see it
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Tokyo subway installing new ticket gates that don’t accept payment through Suica or other IC cards
Japanese ninja certification exam attracts 131 candidates from Japan and abroad
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Bilingual illustrated ninja guide stealthily drops courtesy of a top ninja researcher in Japan
American senior citizen tourist arrested in Japan for bringing gun into country in his luggage
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The top 10 annoying foreign tourist behaviors on trains, as chosen by Japanese people【Survey】
Japan announces sudden 400-percent increase in visa fees for foreigners entering the country
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